closing the distance text:Layout 1 9/2/09 3:18 PM Page i CLOSING THE DISTANCE How Governments Strengthen Ties with Their Diasporas Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, Editor closing the distance text:Layout 1 9/2/09 3:18 PM Page ii Migration Policy Institute Washington, DC © 2009 by the Migration Policy Institute. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy; or included in any information storage and retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the Migration Policy Institute. Permission for reproducing excerpts from this book should be directed to: Permissions Department, Migration Policy Institute, 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20036, or by contacting [email protected]. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available from the Library of Congress. Agunias, Dovelyn Rannveig, ed. Closing the Distance: How Governments Strengthen Ties with Their Diasporas. 10-digit ISBN: 0-9742819-5-6 13-digit ISBN: 978-0-9742819-5-7 1. United States—Migration and development—Diaspora engagement—Migrant-origin governments. 2. Philippines—Migrant worker protections—Contract labor migration— Development gap—Bilateral labor agreements. 3. Mali—Skill and knowledge transfers—Co-development partnerships. 4. Mexico—Diaspora engagement—Diaspora empowerment. Cover Photo: William Vann, EduPic Graphical Resource, www.edupic.net Cover Design: April Siruno Interior Design and Typesetting: Letra Libre, Inc. Printed in the United States of America. closing the distance text:Layout 1 9/2/09 3:18 PM Page iii CONTENTS Foreword v Kathleen Newland, Director, Migrants, Migration, and Development Program, Migration Policy Institute CHAPTER I. INSTITUTIONALIZING DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT WITHIN MIGRANT-ORIGIN GOVERNMENTS 1 Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, Associate Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute Introduction 1 Carving a Niche in the Inner Workings of Government 2 Bridging the Gap between Ambition and Implementation 17 Conclusion 25 Appendices 27 CHAPTER II. PROTECTING OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS: THE GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IN THE CONTRACT LABOR MIGRATION CYCLE 55 Patricia A. Sto. Tomas, Chairman, Development Bank of the Philippines and Former Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, Government of the Philippines Introduction 55 Protection: How and Why 57 Promise and Challenges in Institutionalizing Protection at Origin 61 Beyond Institutionalization: External Constraints to Migrant Worker Protection 62 Conclusion 66 closing the distance text:Layout 1 9/2/09 3:18 PM Page iv CHAPTER III. CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH DIASPORAS: THE MALIAN EXPERIENCE 69 Dr. Badara Aliou Macalou, Minister for Malians Abroad and African Integration, Government of Mali Migration in Mali: Basic Facts and Figures 69 The Involvement of Malians Abroad in Development 72 Existing Government Structures for the Diaspora 76 Final Considerations 83 CHAPTER IV. THE INSTITUTE OF MEXICANS ABROAD: AN EFFORT TO EMPOWER THE DIASPORA 87 Carlos González Gutiérrez, Consul General of Mexico in Sacramento, California, and former Executive Director, Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME), Government of Mexico Introduction 87 Creating a Forum: The Institute of Mexicans Abroad 88 IME’s Services Agenda 92 IME’s Information Agenda 95 Final Considerations 97 About the Editor and Contributing Authors 99 About the Migration Policy Institute and Its Migrants, Migration, and Development Program 101 Acknowledgments 105 iv Closing the Distance closing the distance text:Layout 1 9/2/09 3:18 PM Page v FOREWORD Kathleen Newland iaspora populations can be an asset or a liability to the governments of their countries of origin—and sometimes both at once. The focus has shifted to the positive in recent years as governments increasingly have come to see their Ddiasporas as assets and as the international policy discussion about the relationship between migration and development has gathered momentum. Building on the newfound awareness of the tremendous importance of remittances to many developing countries (in Tajikistan, the world’s most remittances-dependent economy, remittances make up more than half of the gross national product, or GNP), governments have become interested in the other contributions that members of the diaspora can and do make to the development of their homelands. These include direct investment in businesses, portfolio investment in emerging stock markets or government bonds, philanthropic contributions, development of global trade and business ties, and the transfer of knowledge and skills acquired abroad. Beyond their contributions to economic development, diasporas with close ties to their countries of origin may also catalyze the adoption of new attitudes. Some of these, such as greater acceptance of new gender roles or lower tolerance for corruption, are conducive to development. More generally, ties with a group of “transnational” citizens may allow developing countries to enjoy some of the benefits of globalization rather than only suffering its disruptions. Simple awareness of the potential of an engaged diaspora does not, however, translate automatically into benefits. Increasingly, many governments are becoming aware of the need to pursue a more active role in relation to diaspora populations in order to involve them productively in development. Of course, some governments, such as China and South Korea, have long done so, and their experience offers lessons for others with similar ambitions. v closing the distance text:Layout 1 9/2/09 3:18 PM Page vi This volume illustrates the great variety of ways that governments engage with their diasporas. The first chapter, by Dovelyn Agunias, offers an unprecedented taxonomy of government structures set up for this purpose, presenting data on 45 institutions in 30 developing countries. The research highlights the tremendous variety of forms that these institutions take, at different levels of government, in the homeland and abroad, formally independent from the government or embedded in official structures. It also points to the gap between the ambitions and the achievements of diaspora institutions, often because of inadequate resources, but also because of inexperience, poor design, and divisions within diasporas. Ms. Agunias draws some important, practical conclusions from her research. She emphasizes the importance of serious preparation. Before a government embarks on a diaspora- engagement program, it should learn as much as it can about what the diaspora needs and can offer. Governments seldom are starting from scratch, so an inward-looking assessment of existing structures and programs is also recommended. Diaspora engagement is as much process as product; how it is done has a major impact on the outcome. Getting the process right is key to building trust with members of the diaspora, assuring them that their views are taken into account and avoiding bureaucratic rivalries that can undermine achievement. Ms. Agunias suggests that governments need to invest in capacity building to make sure that their agendas for diaspora engagement can be implemented. She identifies three key “force multipliers”: funding, technical know-how, and partnerships. Finally, she recommends that diaspora engagement be linked to the country of origin’s development planning, while recognizing that substantial challenges are involved in doing so. The three country case studies that follow demonstrate quite different approaches to diaspora engagement. Patricia A. Sto. Tomas, writing of the Philippines, strongly emphasizes the country of origin’s role in protecting migrant workers abroad. The Philippines was a pioneer in the large-scale deployment of temporary contract workers to the Middle East, starting in the early 1970s, and to other countries subsequently. Today, more than one-quarter of the active labor force works overseas, and the government aims to deploy 1 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) every year. This huge labor flow brings great economic benefits (more than 10 percent of the Philippines’ GNP comes from remittances) but also substantial social and political costs. Families endure chronic separation, and the government is revealed as unable to foster job creation at home. vi Closing the Distance closing the distance text:Layout 1 9/2/09 3:18 PM Page vii With the country and people so dependent on emigration, the government of the Philippines has built administrative structures to regulate the recruitment process, assist in placement, impose sanctions on recruiters and employers (or even entire countries) that abuse or exploit OFWs, provide legal and social services to migrants abroad, and monitor their welfare through a network of government offices in the most important destinations for Filipino migrants. Ms. Sto. Tomas emphasizes, however, that the responsibility for protecting migrant workers does not lie only with the country of origin. Countries of destination also are responsible for assuring that basic human and labor rights are observed, and that migrants have recourse when they are abused by local employers, recruiters, or officials. She concludes that many other actors, including employers, nongovernmental organizations, international agencies, and migrant workers themselves all have responsibilities for protecting migrant workers. Ms. Sto. Tomas, the former Secretary of Labor and Employment and currently Chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines, reflects the priorities of her government
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